Sharing Wi-Fi Passwords from an iPhone: the Ultimate Guide

How to share Wi-Fi passwords from an iPhone

You can conveniently share a Wi-Fi password from an iPhone to another Apple device using a built-in feature similar to AirDrop file-sharing. The sharing and receiving devices must be near each other, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and have the other’s AppleID email address saved in Contacts.

It’s also possible to share Wi-Fi passwords quickly and securely from an iPhone to a nearby Android phone with the help of a QR code generator. Follow the steps below to learn how to share Wi-Fi passwords from an iPhone to iOS, Mac, and Android devices:

Sharing a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to iPhone

iPhones can share a Wi-Fi password with another iPhone or iPad using Apple’s Share Password feature, which sends the data directly using Bluetooth.

Here’s how to share a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to iPhone or iPad:

1. Turn Bluetooth on in the connection settings for both the sending and receiving iPhones.

2. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi on the receiving iPhone and tap to join the Wi-Fi network that the sending iPhone is connected to.

3. Tap Share password on the pop-up that appears on the sending iPhone, and the other iPhone will automatically connect to the network.

4. Tap Done on the sending iPhone.

   

If you’re still having issues getting connected, look into potential reasons why your Wi-Fi isn’t working and tips on how to fix it.

Sharing a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to Mac

You can also use your iPhone’s Share Password feature to automatically connect a Mac device to the Wi-Fi network you’re on.

Here’s how to share a Wi-Fi password from an iPhone with a Mac:

1. Connect your iPhone to the Wi-Fi network.

2. Click the Wi-Fi symbol on the top-right of the Mac screen, and then click the same Wi-Fi network under Other Networks.

   

3. Tap Share password on the pop-up that appears on your iPhone and the Mac will automatically join the network.

4. Tap Done on your iPhone.

Sharing a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to Android

Although iPhones can’t share a Wi-Fi password with an Android device directly using the built-in share password feature, you can use a third-party QR code generator app or website as a shortcut. Just make sure to do some research and check reviews to confirm you’re using a secure tool.

Here’s how to share a Wi-Fi password from iPhone to Android:

1. Open a QR code generator tool, either from an app or a website.

2. Enter your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password.

3. Generate the QR code.

4. On the Android device, scan the QR code with the camera app or a QR scanner app.

How to find a Wi-Fi password on iPhone

Need to retrieve a Wi-Fi password for a network you’ve connected to before? Here’s how to find a saved Wi-Fi password on your iPhone:

1. Go to iOS Settings > Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the “i” icon next to the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to (or any network you’ve previously connected to).

3. Tap Password and authenticate with FaceID, TouchID, or your iPhone passcode.

4. The password will be revealed. You can either view it or tap Copy to save it to your clipboard.

   

Is Wi-Fi password sharing dangerous?

While sharing passwords using Apple’s Share Password feature or QR codes with trusted individuals is generally safe, sharing passwords through other channels can risk interception. Even sending them via secure messaging apps could expose your password if the recipient’s device is compromised.

As a general rule, the fewer people that have access to your Wi-Fi password, the better. That’s because, as on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, people lurking on the network can snoop on your online activities or perform man-in-the-middle attacks. Unwanted guests on your network could also hog valuable bandwidth and cause slowdowns due to ISP throttling.

Wi-Fi password sharing gets more risky in the following situations:

• Sharing a plain-text password: Writing down or verbally sharing a Wi-Fi password increases the risk of it falling into the wrong hands, potentially granting unauthorized access to your network. If you need to share a Wi-Fi password over long distances, use a VPN so that the data is protected by encryption (and learn about other benefits of a VPN.

• Trusting unknown devices: You can’t always trust that your friend or acquaintance’s phone is secured by one of the best iPhone security apps. Letting unsecured or compromised devices onto your Wi-Fi could expose your entire network to hacking or malware attacks, and even result in you having to remove a router virus.

• Using weak passwords: A weak password is easy to guess or steal, exposing your network to possible unauthorized access or hacking attempts. Want to boost your password game? Learn how to create a strong password that you won’t forget.

• Long-term password sharing: The longer you use any given Wi-Fi password, the less secure it becomes, especially if you’re sharing it with other people. Over time, the shared password may fall into the wrong hands, and bad actors will have unfettered access to your network until you change the security key.

• Using weak security protocols: Without WPA2 or WPA3 network security, your Wi-FI is at high risk of unauthorized access and data interception through techniques like sniffing. If your router doesn’t support these protocols, it may be time for an upgrade — it’ll also likely boost your Wi-Fi signal strength.

Boost your Wi-Fi network security with a VPN

Sharing your Wi-Fi password securely is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to network security. To fortify your internet connection against hackers and eavesdroppers, use AVG Secure VPN with powerful AES-256 encryption. It’ll help keep the data you send and receive private and your online activity hidden, whether you’re at home or on public Wi-Fi.